Video: Trapped O.C. lion to be kept in captivity

The 100-pound male mountain lion that was trapped by wildlife officials in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park sometime early Tuesday morning. State Department of Fish and Game officials announced late Tuesday morning that they had decided to place the animal in a facility, instead of euthanizing it or releasing it back into the wild.Courtesy California Department of Fish and Game

The Serrano Cow Trail, however, was to remain closed, she said, in case the lion, which was about two years old, was traveling with its mother or siblings, and in case any other lions might still be in the area.

State Department of Fish and Game officials announced late Tuesday morning that they had decided to place the animal in a facility, instead of euthanizing it or releasing it back into the wild.

"We're going to place that lion," said Fish and Game spokesman Andrew Hughan. "Its going to be a captive animal for the rest of its life."

Where the lion will be kept and whether it will be on public display are still being worked out, Hughan said.

The lion did not represent an immediate threat to the public, Hughan said, so Fish and Game officials did not see a need to destroy it.

On the other hand, the animal showed signs of losing its fear of humans and becoming habituated. So they chose to keep it in captivity, though the agency generally prefers to keep wild animals in the wild, Hughan said.

The lion was first seen July 9, prompting a park closure July 10. The park was reopened Friday.

Then a park visitor captured video of the mountain lion over the weekend. Fish and Game officials fired beanbag rounds at the lion Monday, but it did not leave the area.

"The hope was to just be able to haze that lion, and get it to be able to move on," Fish and Game Capt. Dan Sforza said early Tuesday. "That wasn't, obviously, the case, so it kind of made us curious as to why that lion was stay in in the area -- tied to being right there."

The park was closed, and Fish and Game officials placed a baited trap in the park to make the capture.

Veterinarian Scott Weldy examined the animal at the Serrano Animal Hospital in Lake Forest. Weldy said the animal was calm, and that blood tests were being conducted.

"He appears to be in good shape but has a lot of ticks," said Weldy, who has treated mountain lions and other wildlife. "That seems a little unusual."

The 100-pound male mountain lion that was trapped by wildlife officials in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park sometime early Tuesday morning. State Department of Fish and Game officials announced late Tuesday morning that they had decided to place the animal in a facility, instead of euthanizing it or releasing it back into the wild. Courtesy California Department of Fish and Game
The 100-pound male mountain lion that was trapped by wildlife officials in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park sometime early Tuesday morning. State Department of Fish and Game officials announced late Tuesday morning that they had decided to place the animal in a facility, instead of euthanizing it or releasing it back into the wild. Courtesy California Department of Fish and Game
The 100-pound male mountain lion that was trapped by wildlife officials in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park sometime early Tuesday morning. State Department of Fish and Game officials announced late Tuesday morning that they had decided to place the animal in a facility, instead of euthanizing it or releasing it back into the wild. Courtesy California Department of Fish and Game
This video frame grab shows the 100-pound male mountain lion crossing a trail in front of a coyote at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park on Sunday morning. Courtesy of Robert Meyer
This video frame grab shows the 100-pound male mountain lion crossing a trail in front of a coyote at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park on Sunday morning. Courtesy of Robert Meyer
A hiker makes her way along Borrego Canyon Trail in Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Foothill Ranch early Tuesday morning. A mountain lion was captured Monday night in the park. Mark Rightmire, The Orange County Register
A closed trail sign for Serrano Cow Trail at the intersection of Line Shack Road in Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, Tuesday morning, after a mountain lion was captured early Tuesday morning along Serrano Cow Trail. Mark Rightmire, The Orange County Register
Hikers enter Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park along Borrego Canyon Trail in Foothill Ranch early Tuesday morning. A 100-pound male mountain lion was trapped in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park sometime early Tuesday morning, close to an area where it had been seen over the past week. Mark Rightmire, The Orange County Register
Marisa O'Neil, public information officer for OC Parks, at the trailhead of the Borrego Canyon Trail in Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Foothill Ranch Tuesday morning. A mountain lion was captured early Tuesday morning along Serrano Cow Trail. Mark Rightmire, The Orange County Register
A coyote walks through the brush along Borrego Canyon Trail in Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Foothill Ranch early Tuesday morning. A mountain lion was captured Monday night in the park. Mark Rightmire, The Orange County Register
Mountain bikers enter Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park along Borrego Canyon Trail in Foothill Ranch early Tuesday morning. A 100-pound male mountain lion was trapped in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park sometime early Tuesday morning, close to an area where it had been seen over the past week. Mark Rightmire, The Orange County Register

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